Film
Illusions + Free, White and 21
- 7PM
Post-screening Discussion
An extended post-screening discussion on the themes of the series, moderated by series programmer Ashley Clark and featuring Simon Wu, Casey Llewellyn, and Jennifer Uleman from The Racial Imaginary Institute, and journalist Collier Meyerson.
Dir. Julie Dash
With Lonette McKee, Rosanne Katon
1982, 34min, 16mm
Director Julie Dash (Daughters of the Dust) explores race and representation in World War II-era Hollywood via the story of a black movie studio executive (McKee) passing as white and the African-American singer (Katon) she hires to dub the voice of a white actress. What plays out is a profound, haunting deconstruction of Hollywood’s power to shape racial mythologies.
16mm restored print courtesy of the UCLA Film & Television Archive.
Dir. Howardena Pindell
1980, 12min, digital
Multimedia artist Howardena Pindell assumes the identity of a blonde white woman to discuss the racism—both institutional and casual—she experiences as a black woman in this powerfully personal video essay, which critiques the limitations of white feminism.
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